The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-02-02
HISTORY OF LODIHONT.
IT WAS DEDICATED ON THE FIRST SUN
DAY IN NOVEMBER, 1886.
Interesting FacfS in Reference 10 the
New Associate Reformed Prcsby-
tcriaE Church mt VT. Carmel.

Interesting Facts in Reference 10 the
New Associate Reformed Prcsby-
teriar Church ut VT. Carmel.
Through the kindness of DR.. II. T. Sloan,
we are enabled to furnish the following par
ticulars of Lodimont church:
The General Assembly Prcsbytcrians had
an organization ut I.odimnnt. about three
miles from Mt Carmel and three from Cal
houn'S Mills, for abont twenty-five years, made
M chiefly from Wilmington and 1oprwcl
churches. 1t was served by various pastors
and supplies, viz: ltevs. Davis, Lindsay,
BouZcr Glasgow, Fair and Gilbert, and WAS
indeed !iouriShing congregation for num-
bcr of years. But after the civil war among
the States the church appeared to decline:
The members became discouraged ana conlt!
not sustain the gospel ns formerly, and
preaching had been suspended for about eigh-
tccn months or longer. In the meantime, n
number of the Associate Reformed people
had moved into that section ana feeling
themselves too far removed from any organ.
iZaiion of their preference to attend, began 10
desire preaching. Whereupon, in the Fall OF
1874, Mr.J. +: Caldwcll, f'rmcrly OF Kings
Cedar Springs and Long Cane, who agreed to
give an occasional day during that winter.
Preaching was held in the old Lodimont
church, then vacant.
BY Spring it was thought advisable to or
ganizc Il congregation. Accordingly: May lSt,
iS75. q day previously appointed, Mr.. sloan
with elders from his own church constituting
u Session, proceeded TO organize with the fol,
lowing members, viz: ]. +. CALDWELL Of
Kings Creek. Newbcrry; j. J.. Gown and
wiz, and Robert Link and wife, of 10 g
Cane: James McElvey and wife, (Mr Neil
thurchl, Mrs. Iiillhurn. Mrs. Clay, Miss
Jane McElvcy. Robert Boyd. Benjamin Boyd
and Miss Mcllstcr, Joined the church on
same day, also two sisters of the McssrS.
I .o,t n,,I K.
ing In all about seventeen members M"SSrS.
Caldwell. Gown and McElvcv were elected
elders Robert Boyd and Robert LINK, dca.
cons. Soon after this meeting few othrrS
were added, the officers ordained, ana the
church, in her organized capacity entered
upon Il career of usefulness.
We find in our note book the following
"iS7j, August 10. %, 2lst. Hold sacrament
nj mccting at Todimont, assisted by Rev. IL.
+. Bradley. six wore added IT, the cnnrcn !.
making an aggregate Of - members COLLECTED
there since May lSt lSI5'
Occasional supplies were given to this new
organization by Prcsbytcry. until they Sc
cured pastor In the person 4f Rev. a. y,
Patterson. Mr.. Patterson is still pastor ana
is doing Il good work, both as preacher and
teacher He mas established IL large and
flourishing school. a new honSc Is being
built in Mt Carmel, near where the churrl
church na< hecn removed from its former
site three miles North, into The incnrnoratc
limits of the town. since the complexion nl
the Savannah Valley Railroad The church
building is finished and greatly improved
with stccple and bell and painters brush:
and best of all, paid for. and chiefly by
themselves. Already. other members are
moving into town. and the present prospect
is that Mr. Patterson will have. ere long boih
n nouriShing church and school. IT shonld
have been mentioned. that the title TO inc
original building and grounds was secured
from the PrcSbytcrians and McthodlstS. Ap-
rlication was made to the South Carolina
Prcsbytcry to secure their interest in said
property which was generously voted 10 Inrir
Associate Reformed brethren. The Meth
odist Episcopal Conference also transferred
their interest with a like generous impulse.
The present site was purchased and set apart
to ITS sacred purpose
In response 10 IN application the following
historic facts have been obtained from Mr.
Patterson over his own signature:
BY order of the Second Associate Rformcd
PrcSbyicry. came as strtcd supply 10 me
church Of Lodimont, in the latter part OF the
year 1873, preaching my first sermon here on
the third Sabbath of December.
4 small organization had been formed, by
DR.. ri. IT, Sloan and Others. at this point, anu
had been supplied with preaching for several
months by Prrshyicral appointment.
found small church Of twcntv-.hrer mcn-
hers, including three Ruling Elders and lwd
dcaconS. On the fifteenth of July Of the
year 1876, WAS installed over this people as
pastor.
| Since that time we have worked together
harmoninusly. and, We humbly hon!!., we
have made some proGress-hut, we all 1"rl
that we have progressed very SLOWLY. Our
church is still very small.
During my entire paStoratn, We have re-
ccivcd into church communion thrty-inaf
:nembcrS-t -twcnty-two on profession Of their
faith. and twelve Ivy certificate.
Some Of these few gathered into the 1"lo
here have died, while others have removed
hcvond the bounds of our c',urg". OF the
twenty three members in communion with
the church whcn l came, only seven are Win
us ROW.
or the PrcSbyterian organizations that pre-
viuu ~ 'dXis ted nj this place, can say moth.
inc definitely, and had, therefore, hrtter not
attempt to SAY anything, Dr. sloan mas mmuG age
YOU acquainted with the kindness ot the
Methodist AMI Presbyterian churchcS III
chccrfully turning ovrr to Us all their inter-
eSis in old church building.
In reference to our school we would say.
that probably, VIC have been more successful
than with our church. We began teachlng II
small school several wears ago. which mas
gradually increased. Cur roll for the year
lSSG numbers fifty nine puni!S. For want OF II
suitable or rather comfortable house. our
school is not in session this winter. a large,
convenient academy is in process OF bnildlng
hope to have It completed and ready for
use by lst of January. 1887. We cNrc"t to
have ~ full corps Of teachers for both literary
ami musical departments. go
Vocal and instrumental (riano) music VIII
occupy n prominent place i'll schoIl. owing
to unfinished condition of Onrncad"mS build.
ing. we cannot say definitely when it Will
open.
Hoping that this more general statement
than YOU desired may serve your purpose as
wcll am
a l.. PATTERSON.